Accra, Sept. 17, GNA - Ghana has been chosen to host the international celebration of the United Nations World Tourism Day next year, Mrs Oboshie Sai-Cofie, Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, said in Accra on Wednesday. She said the recognition given to Ghana to host such an international event gave a strong signal of how fast the tourism industry was developing into a major international player.

Mrs Sai-Cofie made the remarks when she inaugurated a National Planning Committee of the 2009 World Tourism Day celebrations, under the chairmanship of Mr Charles Osei-Bonsu. The 2009 Tourism Day celebration would be on the theme: "Tourism Diversifies." "Next year's celebration should be an event that would further boost Ghana's image as a location for memorable celebrations, events, conferences and investments," she said.

The Minister noted that the selection of Ghana to host such an international celebration gave the country an opportunity to attract some businesses and make the country a safe haven for investments, thus enhancing the tourism sector. "We have got to attract potential big foreign investors, who want to put their monies elsewhere and possibly into the sector," she said. World Tourism Day is celebrated every September 27 to draw the world's attention to tourism and its role in the socio-economic development across the globe.

The Day is also to be used to promote domestic tourism. Mrs Sai-Cofie, speaking on next year's theme, said: "We should remind ourselves that tourism is an activity that affects many who are traditionally not seen as participants in the industry. "Tourism creates opportunities for jobs in many industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, construction and retail trade, which all cater for tourists by providing personal services such as guides, shopping, restaurants, photography, entertainment and transportation."

The Minister said there was the need for stakeholders to remind themselves of the positive impact of tourism on foreign exchange earnings, employment and income generation as well as conservation of the environment and also a catalytic tool for growth of the other sectors. "Ghana offers a wide range of unique and exciting natural, cultural and historical resources that when well developed and packaged...should play a vital role to transform the sector." Mrs Sai-Cofie challenged the members of the committee to engage district assemblies and communities to also plan and showcase what they had to offer to the world during the hosting of the 2009 International World Tourism Day.

"The challenge therefore is to deepen our public-private partnership, be original and always strive to come up with unique packages that make Ghana an entirely memorable experience....Planned programmes and activities should make lasting impressions on all visitors and beckon them to repeat visits to the country."

This year's celebration on the theme: "Tourism: Responding to the Challenges of Climate Change," would be climaxed at Ho in the Volta Region to capture the essence of fighting against environmental degradation among other negative environmental practices. This year's celebrations would be used as a crusade against negative environmental practices in various communities while developing and implementing strategies to fight the changing climate conditions. "Climate change is not a remote event but a phenomenon that already affects certain destinations," Mr Kofi Osei Ameyaw, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, said during a media launch of this year's event. Activities planned for this year's tourism day celebrations include, sensitisation seminars and tree planting exercises at various regional capitals and districts. A major national sensitisation programme would be held on September 23 at Ho to whip up enthusiasm in the public towards the national day celebration.

There would also be a launch of a project dubbed: "Green School Project" where schools in the Volta Region would be encouraged to adopt practices of greening their environment. Participating schools would plant trees and the most successful school would be honoured as the "Most Green School in Ghana." Mr Osei Ameyaw called on the public to show interest and participate in this year's events.